Cold-water tube and cleaner for domestic boilers and heaters



.June 24, 1930. w. EIERMANN COLD WATER TUBE AND CLEANER FOR DOMESTIC BOILERS AND HEATERS INVENTOR, 5 "wt/11mm Ewrm nn ATTORNEYS Filed Au Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES WILLIAM EIERMANN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK GOLD-WATER TUBE AND CLEANER 'FOR DOMESTIC BOILERS 'AND HEATERS Application filed'August 9, 1927. Serial No. 211,759.

This invention relates to domestic boilers and heater cleaners, and particularly to an improved cold water tube cleaner capable of being used temporarily or permanently, and

acting both as a cleaner and as a cold water supply tube. V r

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction to be used with domestic boilers, heaters and the like, wherein a clean-cut tube is provided which may be used by workmen for cleaning out a boiler or heater or maybe used as a combined cleaner and a cold water supplypipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaner for boilers or heaters, wherein improved means are provided for readily applying and removing the cleaner.

' A. further object of the invention is to provide a flexible tube so that it may be inserted into a boiler without taking the boiler down, and may be installed with or without a sprinkler head. I

In the accompanying drawing--v Figure 1 is a vertical sectional riew through a domestic boiler of'usual construction, with a cleaner embodying the inven'- tion-shown applied thereto.

Figure 2' is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the connections of the cleaner and remaining parts of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure Bis an enlarged vertical sectional view through the lower end-or distributing end of'the cleaner shown inFigure 1.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a modified form of cleaner end to that shown in Figure 2.

'Figure 6 isa view similar to thelowcr part of Figure l, but showing the cleaner used'in a difl'erentmanner. U i a Figure 7 is a View similar-to the lower ipartiof Figure 1, butshowing a special outlet. I I f FigureS is a side View with certain-parts broken away, illustrating the cleaner applied to what is commonly known as-an instantaneous heater. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawing 59 by numerals, .1 indicates an ordinary dosleeve 18, firmly clamps the various parts '2 has been removed and the cleaner or cleaner tube 5 substituted. This cleaner is formed of a flexible metallic tubing having at the upper end a sleeve 6 screwed thereon, said sleeve having substantially the same conformation as the exterior of the tube 5. This sleeve has, however, a flange 7' either integral therewith or rigidly secured thereto. This flange rests 011 top of the flange 8 of the short tube or fitting 9 'screwed into the member 10 forming part of the boiler 1. A coupling nut 11 acting on flange 8 and on the threaded portion 12 of the together as shown in FigureQ so as to produce a water-tight connection. .Sleeve 13 is screwed onto pipe 4: in the usual manner.

When the parts have been connected up as just described, water may be turned on by actuating a suitable valve interposed somewhere in pipe 1. As the Water passes from pipe 4; through the cleaner 5, it will move downwardly and finally be discharged out the end 14 where it will be sprayed as indicated in dotted linesin Figure 1, This spray stirs up the mud and all foreign matter resting on the bottom 15 so that the muddy water may be readily drawn off through the usual draw oif cock 16. Before water is turned onto the cleaner 5, all the. water in the boiler 1 is drawn ofi through cock 16 so thatas the water forms the spray 17, said. spray will land directly on the mud and other foreign matter, whereby the same may be quickly loosened up so as tobe a little later drawn off through cock 16.

The spray 17 is formed by a cone which is fitted into a sleeve 19 having a flar- ,ingend 20. The cone 18 is provided with a cross-shaped body 21 soldered or'otherwise rigidly secured to the sleeve 19 whereby when said sleeve is screwed into the lower end of the cleaner 5 and water is turned on, loo

said water will move out in a cone-shaped sheet through the opening or slit 22.

In many places, the top of the domestic boiler 1 is near the top of the kitchen or other room, and consequently, the regular spray tube 2 cannot be removed until the boiler has been completely taken down. For this reason,tlie'claner tubii may be le'ift permanently in place if desired, and also if desired, may be removed without taking the boiler down. Also, if preferred, the tube 2 may be removed or maybe loosened and dropped down into tne'boiler and'then the cleaner 5 inserted, even though the ceiling of the room is very near the top of the boiler 1. The cleaning action then may take place and if desired, tube 5 left in place as the cold water tube. Under some circumstances, the cleaner 5 .is inserted through the fitting 23 as shown in Figure 6, and the cleaning action performed by turning on water as above described and later draining the same through the. cook 16. The fitting 23 is the usual member for connecting a hot water coil to-theboiler or for connecting the boiler to the fireback of a, range.

1 It has also been found desirable to provide a drain off structure 24 at the edgeof the bottom 15. This is provided usually when a new boiler, is being made or set up.

This permits all of the mud ,to .be removed quickly and easily as this isat the lowest point of the boiler. When draining off through the structure shown in Figured, the bottom 15 near the periphery is not very well drained unless a rather largev amount of water is. used, so that wherever possible, the special drain off pipe 2% is preferable.

In the ordinary instantaneous heater as shown in Figure 8, diificulty has been experienced in cleaning the same; In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 8, the cleaner 5 is used'in the usual way and is connected up as a substitute oi-the cold water. pipe. However, special drain oft" pipe 25 is provided at the lowermost point of the boiler s'o as to drain theperiphery of the bottom '26 as well as the entirejsuriace. A suitable valve 2'? is connected with pipe 25 so that the boiler may be drained o'fixat any time. The cleaner tube. 5 maybe used by workmen to clean a boiler, or may ;be used to take the placepermanently of the usual cold water tube. When acting as a cold water tube, the boiler is continually full. of water .and, consequently, the spray I '17 will ordinarily be a gentle inflow of water. This inflow, of .water usually, is sufficient to maintain the bottom ofthe boiler clean, but in case sediment should accumu- ,late, water may be turned off of the tube 5, boiler l drained, .and then water turned on again through tube 5 for providing spray 17, This will effectively washthe bottom 15 and thus provide a clean boiler.

ally straddles the pipe 5 s9 that it may sway this pipe back and forth. The pacl'ring gland 28 is sufiiciently tight to prevent any leakage, and may be of any desired structure. If desired, gland 28 may be loosened when knob 30is to be operated, and then again tightened after the cleaning operation has been performed. This device is intendedprimarily to be used by otherpersons than plumbers, whereby a housekeeper may readily and thoroughlyclean the boiler. It is, of course, evident that plumbers may use this device if desired, and .will always use the device wherever installed. This device is shown on an ordinary domestic boiler, but it could be used on water heaters as shown in Fig. 8, or other boilers, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lVhatI claim is: 7 a V 1. A cleaner for domestic boilers and the like, comprising a flexible tube of metal formed as a thread, means at the upper end for operatively connecting the tube with the boiler and water supply, and means at the lower end presentinga spray structure, said spray structure including a sleeve formed as athread adapted to be screwed into and out of the, lower end of said tube a stem CIOSSr' shaped in cross section fitting [into said sleeve and a cone positioned atv the end of said stem whereby water, passing the "stem will be divided into several streams and then into a conically shaped shower.

2. In combination, a domestic ,boiler formed with a cold water inlet, said inlet comprising an internally-threaded 'iiig member permanently secured to the shell oi the boiler at the top, a tubular fitting screwed into said ring, said fitting forming a flange, a sleeve having threads at eachgend for connecting a pipe to -said. tubular fitting and acoupling nut engaging the flange on sa d fitting and certain of thegthr'ead's on sald sleeve for clamping the sleeve to the fitting, and'a flexible tube provided with a flange fitting between the flange "on said tubular fittingand said sleeve, whereby it is clamped in :position when said coupling nut is tightened, said flexible tube-extending through said tubular fitting'and to a point near the bottom of the boiler for discharging water nearthe bottom of the boiler.

3. The combination with a boiler having a cold Water inlet provided with means for clamping a cold Water distributing pipe in the boiler, of a flexible tube extending into the boiler having a spray nozzle at its inner end and a flange at its outer end, said flange being positioned to be secured in place by said means for clamping a cold Waterdistributing pipe in the boiler.

WILLIAM EIERMANN. 

